New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-23
THE BEECHER COLLECTION

The paintings prints, books, Oriental rugs and
eorcelains collected by the late Henry Ward Beecher
have been placed exhibition at the American Art
Galleries The personal interest of these objects Will
donbtless assure them favorable reception and i'm
martial Judgment will find many articles which possess
real intrinsic merit. Mr. Beechers acquisitions were
due to personal liking to impulse to associations, and
IN the acconae generosity OF friends and there Is
attept to present collections formed with idea OF
scientific collecting those of cOnnosseur The
paintings are no more those OF amateur than the
library is the library of Calvnis heoogan of Lyman
Beechers day. that OF bbliophile versed IN all the
niccties of finely tOoei bindings tall copies nrst
editions aud all the rartes of the book market There
three comp aratively early paintings by George
Inness all interesting and the largest delightful though
somewhat constrained in its rendering of the feeling or
q summer afternoon There is little to be said for
Fontanebeau attributed to Daz, who at the time
Of It's date rarely guilty OF such dngness OF
color, lack of atmosphere AMI feeblcncss or touch.
Whether painted the picture or not its dement's arc
patent landscape study by Pclouse furnishes vgor-
Gus minor example of artist who has hardly received
due recognition in this country Elsewhere we nave
noted paintings OF flowers by Mrs Buell. MNlth
Girardn and Mr.. Emil Carlson, with landscapes py
Mcssrs Delcnbaugh and q. l. Brown, drawings by Won
Bccst and a crayon two 10y Mr. Eastman Johnson Inc
framed engravings naturally include the familiar prints
OF Da yinci's Last supper" the SiXtine Madonna,
Murllo's Immaculate Conception, the iSOri'c Mag
ialen of Correggo and Others which in Gallery - are
nrints of and therefore unremaIkaDe
In the same gallery several modern etcings, among
which are proof examples of the excellent reproductive
work of Brunet Debanes and Country, together with
etchIngs by farrer, Hamilton and Bellows In another
examples OF three or the great clshtethtn
century engravers, Strange, Walker and Wltte, ana
these specimens of English ana Continental line engrdV
ers are accompanied by the work of distinguished
Frenchman. Hcnriquct Dupont AMI 10y few specimens
mezzotn cngravers There are several cNceIellt im
pressions aud the quality OF the impressions mas lar
more significance than the conventional Glsthctlons
which are often meaningless. me Wori proof
nted
cation well the usual letters, VIII lardy
have weight with the amateur The real although
tustifes the assumption that the ctchngs ana DINER
unframed prints of much more Importance than the
paintings We have not yet been able 10 look through
the portfolios which sai to contain impressions OF
excellent quality. In the upper gallery niue group
Of good lockwood pottery and few french vases
placed in the Illustrate modern eiort 10 ap
proach nearly be to the perfection or Orenal
ceramics There few Chinese porcealns ana these
with the exception of or two fambe Jars are uhi
portant. The examples OF Haviland and Limoges ware
antique furniture Will make this gallery popular WIN
visitors and it certainly contains potent attraction IN
the group of Daghestan and Cardahar rugs whose salts
fyng cOlOrs testify to line taste ana discrimination IN
selection Altogether the catalogue OF the Bcecher col
lection contains nearly 1000 numbers.
In the large gallery hundred more paintings arc
exhibited, which. we are glad TO see are pnolTX an
nOuneed TO be from other collections. Mr.. William
Scaus, MesSrs Robinson and Reed and various artists
have contributed pictures among which We may cite
large study of peasant life by Renouf; marine by De
tom large harbOr scene by Cays. and examples OF
Royber, Chauycl, Karl Daubigny. Mesgrigny, Hoeber
and Bolmer In the passageway Is a niue group OF
curious memenioes of the Hudson klVer schooi
mich are worth moments study if for no other reason
obtain cheerful assurance OF the advance OF our
art